I got a few packs of Counteroffensive today, and I decided to open them now since I have nothing better to do.
First Pack:
3-Inch Mortar (UK, Common) - I guess this is nice to have in a Tommy force Guards Infantry (Soviet Union, Common) - Great, but I rarely play Soviets New Zealand Commander (New Zealand, Uncommon) - I really don't like fringe units. I could play this alongside the British, however. Recon BMW R75 (Germany, Uncommon) - I don't see any use for this. Veteran SU-76M (Soviet UNion, Rare) - Don't see much use for this either.
Second Pack:
Imperial Engineer (Japan, Common) - I like playing Japan, but not with this unit. Meh. DAK Infantry (Germany, Common) - Good for NA Scenarios Yugoslav Partisan Commander (Yugoslavia, Uncommon) - Fringe. Bleh. ZIS-42 Half-Track (Soviet Union, Uncommon) - Great for mechanized forces. Type 4 Ho-Ro (Japan, Rare) - I love self-propelled artillery. Since I like playing Japan, this will provide a great deal of assistance.
Third Pack:
MG-34 Machine-Gun Team (Germany, Uncommon) - Great for early war scenarios Slovakian Infantry (Slovakia, Common) - Fringe. Bleh. New Zealand Infantry (New Zealand, Common) - Fringe, but can work OK with British units in Pacific Type 95 Ha-Go (Japan, Uncommon) - I have plenty of these already, but they're mostly in the old 12mm scale. I guess it'd be nice to have another one in 15mm. Type 4 Ho-Ro (Japan, Rare) - Excellent, more artillery. Now I just need a Jungle Spotter.
Not bad pulls really...the 3" mortar is nice, get the revised card, it has the same attack numbers & range as the all the others for Ger. USA. USSR The Ho-Ro's are very nice, hope you find a spotter.
The SU-76 is alright, I play Russia & they have their place.
Partisans are fun, played well they do nasty things at times.
The DAK & Guards are good, the NZ guys are decent also, Steely Resolve & Dispersal are good SA's.
What use do fringe units have? I never really used them before.
I have to agree with you on fringe units, but then what is fringe to one person is useful to another.
Slovakian infantry is pretty fringe indeed, I have 3, a tank & Marder III, the infantry sculpts proxie as DAK, kinda resemble them & the tank is grey, Germans use it & the Marder is going to get repainted.
Partisans are fun, they have their niche in games.
The New Zealanders fight in the desert or Pacific, your Japanese need targets too ya know...
Not bad pulls overall....or trade fodder...maybe find them Jungle Spotters you seek...just a thought.
You can use the Japanese engineer as a Sapper or Lunge Mine unit if you play custom cards & units.The updated/revised card does make this piece a bit better, CA 7 & Demolition, better than the original stats I think.
For me, the biggest problem with Fringe is that I don't have enough to make an army out of them. I'd love to do Germany-France scenarios if I had enough basic French units.
Fringe units or Minor nations can be fun. They can be used stand alone if you have enough or simply add them as support to an allied nation. IMO- the BMW recon is a great unit. it is a highly mobile MG. I have played games where my opponent has brought several of them, it's like having a bunch of hornets buzzing around your face. Thanks for sharing
I set out to collect just the 5 countries of the original boardgame. I have the 6 that comprised the Tripartite/Axis & the Allies. I also have Minors for both sides as well. firehouse says it well, stand alone, support, pain in a bad place (Partisans) or just cannon fodder for your opponent while you outflank him.
WotC did screw the pooch in many ways, but we still have a good game that can be played on many levels. Houserules, custom units, aftermarket....we are just getting started in the madness!
While looking in the Marketplace, I see Stalker6 has a Jungle Spotter in his Japanese assortment. Only 1, but if you are looking for this unit, there is 1 available. Your Ho-Ro would thank you...